Life-preserver.



No. 659,807. Patented 00f. l6, I900.

J. BARTON. I

LIFE PRESERVER.

(Application filed. Mar. 27, 1900.)

(No Model.)

INVEIITW Armmi/Ers JESSIE BARTON, OF METHERINGHAM, ENGLAND.

LlFE-PRESERVER.

SPECIFICATION forming part of Letters Patent No. 659,807, dated October 16, 1900. Application filed March 27, 1900. Serial No. 10,314. (No model.)

To all whom it may concern:

Be it known that I, JEssIE BARTON, a subject of the Queen of Great Britain, residing at Metheringham, Lincoln, in the county of Lincoln, England, have invented certain neiv and useful Improvements in Life-Preservers,

of which the following is a full and complete specification, such as will enable those skilled in the art to which it appertains to make and use the same.

The invention relates to life-preservers; and the object thereof is to provide an improved device of this class whereby persons or goods may be securely housed and protected from wind and wave.

In life-preserversas at present generally constructed the persons or goods buoyed thereby are subject to the buffeting of the elements, and destruction and exhaustion often follow before extraneous assistance is rendered.

The object of the invention is to provide a life-preserver embodying an improved casing in which persons or goods may be securely housed until further assistance is rendered.

The invention consists in the construction and arrangement of parts hereinafter specified.

In the accompanying drawings, forming part of this specification, in which like reference characters denote corresponding parts in the several views, Figure l is a perspective View of a life-preserver constructed according to my invention; Fig. 2, a longitudinal section thereof upon the line 2 2 of Fig. l, and Fig. 3 a sectional detail of the construction.

In the practice of my invention I provide a life-preserver comprising a tubular base portion A and a relatively-enlarged tubular top portion B. The base portion A consists of a circular base-plate 3 and a top ring 4: of corresponding diameter, said base-plate and top ring being connected by a plurality of spaced body-strips 5, which are circularly arranged, as clearly shown in Fig. 2. The top portion B consists ofa base-ring 6 and a top ring 7 of similar diameter, said base-ring and top ring being connected by a plurality of body-strips 8, which are circularly arranged, similar to the body-strips 5 of the base portion A, and an ann ular member 9 is connected with the top ring 7 by a plurality of radial body-strips 10. The base-ring 6 is connected with the top ring 4 of the base portion A of the life-preserver by a plurality of radiallyarranged body-strips 11, arranged in a plane parallel with the plane in which lie the bodystrips 10. I also provide a cap or closure 12, which fits the annular member 9 of the top portion of the life-preserver, being provided with a depending annular flange 13,which is passed into the upper end thereof. To enable a person within the life-preserver to firmly secure the closure 12in position, as shown in the drawings, I provide a catch-arm l4,which is pivoted to the closure 12 at the inner side thereof and is engaged with a screw-eye or hook 15, secured to the annular member 9, as clearly shown in Fig. 2.

The top portion and base portion, respectively, A and B of the life-preserver are covered exteriorly with a skin of canvas or other similar material, (shown at 16,) and this covering is made in any suitable manner impervious to moisture and is of sufficient thickness and stability to resist puncture and similar injuries arising under ordinary circumstances to which the life-preserver may be subjected. The closure 12 is also exteriorly covered with a similar skin 16 and is provided with a pair of chains or other suspension devices l7,which are secured to the top portion B of the lifepreserver to prevent misplacement of the closure.

Ranging upwardly from the top of the top portion B of the lifepreservcr and communicating with the interior thereof is a ventilator-tube 18, provided with a downwardlydeflected perforated head 19, in which is mounted a ball-valve 19, which operates to close the tube 18 in the ordinary manner when the water surrounding the life-preserver rises and floats the same, thus preventing entrance of water into the life-preserver. I also provide suitable suspension devices 20, which are connected with the top portion B of the life-preserver and whereby the same may be conveniently suspended upon shipboard or elsewhere.

It is manifest that within the base portion A and top portion B of the life-preserver a person or persons or goods may be securely housed and efiectively protected from the attack of the elements, that said interior will be fully supplied with air through the The annular top portion B of the life-pareserver, which is enlarged relative to the base portion A thereof, forms a compartment in which a variety of articles incident to the sus- I tenance of a person may be stored, and various articles may likewise be housed or carried in said top portion.

I do not limit myself to the specific construction and arrangement :of parts herein specified, but reserve the right to vary the same Within the scope of my invent-ion.

Having fully described my invention, I claim as new and desire to secure by Letters Patent 1. The herein-described life-preserver,comprising a buoyant tubular body embodying a relatively-large top portion, said body portion consisting of a base-plate, and a plurality of annular members and, body-strips rigidly connected together, the entirety being covered by a skin of canvas or other impervious material, and a detachable closure for said body portion, substantially as :shown and described.

2. The herein-described life-preserver, comprising a buoyant tubular body, and means for permitting the ingress of air thereto and for automatically cutting off said ingress, consisting of a tube connected with said tubular body, and provided with a downwardly-directed perforated head in which is mounted a valve, whereby when said valve is floated by the element in which said life-preserver operatessaid ingress will be cutoff, substantially as shown and described.

3. The herein-described life-preserver, comprising a buoyant tubular body embodying a relatively-largetop portion, the said body portion consisting of a base-plate, and a plurality of annular members and body-strips rigidly connected togethergthe entirety being covered a skin of canvasor other impervious material, substantially as shown and described.

In testimony that I claim the foregoing as my invention I have signed my name, in presence of the subscribing witnesses, this 16th day of March, 1900.

JESSIE BARTON.

Witnesses:

EDWARD ADDISON TITLEY, J OHN RICHARD RAITHBY. 

